What your body type can teach you about fitness & weight loss

Look up “body types” in any search engine and you’ll be bombarded with pages of articles describing your supposed “correct” body shape. Women’s bodies are often categorized into fruit and utensil shapes, which can be both amusing and confusing. Are you a spoon or a fork? Apple or banana? How can anyone resemble a banana?

Luckily, there are three body types that can provide a more clear representation of our appearance, focusing less on the overall shape and more on general body fat. They go by the names ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph, and are body types characterized by fat and muscle distribution.

Knowing these body types and which one you are specifically can greatly help you in your fitness journey. You’ll be able to structure a diet and exercise plan most accurately suited for you. Each body type has its strength and weaknesses but by knowing what those pros and cons are you’ll be able to reach your fitness goals more efficiently. Read on to find out where you stand:

Ectomorph

Description: Ectomorphs have a naturally skinny appearance, thanks to their high metabolism. They have a hard time gaining weight and can basically eat anything they want with little to no weight gain.

Diet tips: Ectomorphs have difficulty gaining both muscle and weight so eating high density foods (low calorie, high nutrition value) like almonds, avocado and oats can help add healthy calories to their diet. Carbohydrates are also welcoming to ectomorph bodies so loading up on potatoes and brown rice can help add some much needed caloric intake. Because of their fast metabolism, it helps for an ectomorph body type to divide large meals into staggered smaller meals throughout the day in order to consume more calories on a regular basis.

Fitness tips: Due to their ability to burn fat very quickly, ectomorph body types should focus more on strength training and less on cardio. It might take a while to notice muscle gain but compound exercises like bench presses and deadlifts will help increase muscle the fastest and get ectomorph bodies on a healthy track.

Endomorph

Description: Endomorphs are generally heavy set with a wide bone structure. They tend to carry more body fat than the other two body types, and have the toughest time managing their weight.

Diet Tips: A low carb diet is an endomorph’s best bet for losing or maintaining a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index). Making sure to fuel up on protein and fibre is also important so stick to lean meats like chicken and fish, and choose dark green vegetables like broccoli and spinach over white carbs to help your body fuel up with foods that carry a high nutrition value.

Fitness Tips: High intensity aerobic and strength conditioning workouts are an endomorph’s best choice for burning fat. Strength training is especially effective as you continue to burn calories long after the workout is complete.

Mesomorph

Description: Naturally well built, a mesomorph body sits right in between the ectomorph and endomorph body types and carries characteristics of both. Mesomorph bodies are athletic and can gain muscle easily. They have a fast metabolism (like ectomorphs) and are able to lose and put on weight at a relatively equal rate.

Diet Tips: Mesomorphs generally have it easier when it comes to food consumption. Their bodies respond and benefit quickly to healthy foods but for best results, it’s recommended mesomorphs stick to a 40% complex carbohydrates, 30% lean protein and 30% healthy fats diet ratio.

Fitness Tips: While it’s easy for a mesomorph body type to stay in shape, it’s also important for them to not take their bodies for granted either. A timed workout will help increase their workout intensity and help push them to work towards their fitness goals.

By discovering your correct body type and the requirements it needs to function most efficiently, you can specialize your workouts to your specific body needs. Check in with a professional personal trainer to get a more in depth analysis or learn more online, and watch your fitness improve significantly!